Chapter 40: Hatred
"offspring of a human and snake people?!"
Upon hearing Qing Lin's background, Xiao Yan and the others were all taken aback.
Qing Lin seemed to be startled by their shocked reactions, quickly blinking and hiding behind Xiao Jing'er, this time not daring to even peek out.
"Ah, ah, sorry, sorry! We didn't mean anything bad!"
"Yeah! Don't be so scared~"
Seeing Qing Lin's reaction, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu immediately felt something was wrong, and hurriedly approached to comfort her.
With their efforts to reassure her, Qing Lin gradually peeked her head out from behind Xiao Jing'er, her small eyes reflecting Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu's figures, mixed with deep confusion.
"Aren't you scared of me?"
"Little sister, you're so cute, what's there to be afraid of?" Xiao Yu squatted down beside Qing Lin and gently stroked her head with affection. "I'm Xiao Yu, if you face any difficulties here, just come to me, okay?"
Feeling the kindness emanating from Xiao Yu, Qing Lin gradually relaxed, smiling and nodding at Xiao Yu.
"Mm!"
Seeing Qing Lin's response, Xiao Jing'er softly smiled and looked at Xiao Yu.
"Xiao Yu, this child hasn't rested much on the way here, and staying in a guest room all alone would be too lonely. Could you take care of her these days?"
"Ah~ Don't worry, leave it to me." Xiao Yu quickly agreed and then looked back at Qing Lin, extending her hand. "Little Qing Lin, let's go to my room to rest, okay?"
"Okay!"
Qing Lin replied, placing her small hand into Xiao Yu's palm, letting her gently lead her away.
Xiao Yan stood up and watched Qing Lin's departing figure, his brows furrowed slightly, and then he looked at Xiao Jing'er.
"Sister, that child..."
"She's a bit shy, right?" Xiao Jing'er said softly, a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "Yan'er, do you know where my second sister and I set up our mercenary group?"
"Mm, you mentioned it before, it's in the Tagore Desert."
Xiao Yan nodded slightly, and Xiao Jing'er continued.
"Our mercenary group was established near the borders of the Snake People's territory."
"The Snake People are extremely hostile to humans, and the feeling is mutual."
"Although both belong to the Jia Ma Empire, the Snake People and humans have always been bitter enemies."
Listening to Xiao Jing'er describe the Snake People, Xiao Yan frowned slightly.
"Why?"
Any longstanding enmity between two forces must have some reason behind it.
Xiao Jing'er slowly spoke again.
"A long time ago, the Jia Ma Empire engaged in the slave trade, and this was no secret."
"Due to their unique race, the Snake People's organs were often considered precious medicinal materials, and they were frequently targeted by slave traders, especially the women of the Snake People, whose beauty was universally breathtaking, making them highly sought after by the slave merchants."
"Gradually, the Snake People began to resent and despise humans. However, due to the immense power of humans, they were unable to fight back, and so they moved their entire clan deep into the Tagore Desert."
"Even then, those slave merchants didn't give up. They infiltrated the Snake People's territory by various means, continuing to seize the Snake People, whom they regarded as merchandise."
"The Snake People began using force to resist, but the greed of the slave merchants far exceeded their expectations. Even though they slowed down due to the Snake People's resistance, they never abandoned their intentions."
"Only after the Jia Ma royal family carried out a large purge and banned all slave trading was the situation finally eradicated."
Xiao Jing'er paused, her brow furrowed slightly.
"However..."
"The Snake People believe it was their own strength that wiped out the slave traders, and since then, they have continued to harbor hatred toward humans, correct?"
Xiao Yan softly added, and Xiao Jing'er nodded, continuing.
"Not only that, but they also adopted a philosophy of the survival of the fittest. They began using force to invade human territories and seize more resources, which in turn stirred up even more hatred from humans."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan clenched his fist.
It was tragic that a small group from both races' actions had dragged entire races into conflict.
The Snake People, once the victims of the survival of the fittest, had ultimately turned that philosophy back on humanity.
How sad.
At this moment, Xiao Jing'er began recounting Qing Lin's origins.
"Qing Lin's mother was human, and her father was from the Snake People. When I first established the mercenary group with your second sister in the Tagore Desert, we met them in a small wooden house far from both the human settlements and the Snake People's territory."
"From what they said, Qing Lin's mother had saved her father, who was on the brink of death in the desert. Qing Lin's mother didn't harbor any prejudice against the Snake People and took good care of him. During this time, Qing Lin's father, who had once hated humans, came to realize that not all humans were the villains they had been taught to believe."
"Eventually, they naturally fell in love and gave birth to Qing Lin. When I first met her, she must have been around six or seven years old." Xiao Jing'er smiled softly at Xiao Yan. "Just like how you were when you were young, so cute~"
"Uh..."
Xiao Yan scratched his face awkwardly and said.
"Well, if that's the case, isn't it a good thing? As long as both sides love each other."
"Indeed, although their home consisted only of the three of them, it seemed that heaven favored them. There was a small spring near their house, and the area surrounding their home had a small oasis with enough resources for them to grow food. They were self-sufficient and could live there without any issues."
Xiao Jing'er said this, but suddenly her tone shifted.
"However, misfortune struck."
"This year, Qing Lin's mother fell seriously ill due to prolonged exposure to the harsh environment. Her father took her to the nearest human settlement to seek help, but they only received endless insults and attacks with blades. In the process, Qing Lin's father was badly injured while protecting her mother, and by the time they returned home, he was already on the brink of death."
"When I received word at the mercenary group, I immediately rushed to their small house with a doctor. What we found was Qing Lin's mother, who had already passed away, and Qing Lin's father, who was clinging to life. Qing Lin was lying on her mother's body, sobbing softly."
Xiao Jing'er 's voice grew lower, and both Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan, the listeners, felt deep sadness. Xiao Jing'er sighed deeply before continuing.
"Qing Lin's father, upon seeing me, finally seemed to relax. With his last breath, he entrusted me with taking care of Qing Lin, and then he passed away."
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy, and Xiao Yan felt a deep sadness in his heart. He softly asked.
"Why... didn't they seek help from the Snake People? Qing Lin's father is from the Snake People, right?"
"Yan'er, the hatred the Snake People have for humans is far beyond what you can imagine." Xiao Jing'er looked at Xiao Yan and said softly. "When Qing Lin's parents went to the human settlement, the humans just drove them away. But if they had gone to the Snake People, they would have killed Qing Lin's mother on the spot. Even Qing Lin's father would have been treated as a traitor and executed."
"...."
Xiao Yan fell silent, and Xiao Li'er beside him also showed a look of sorrow.
"When my older sister and I were in danger in the desert, it was Qing Lin's parents who saved us. That was our first meeting." Xiao Li'er clenched her fists tightly, her teeth gritted. "They were so kind, yet in the end..."
Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan remained silent, each deep in thought.
This must have been a huge blow to Qing Lin.
She couldn't even find an object to direct her hatred at.
Should she hate the humans who chased away her parents with words and blades? But they, too, had suffered persecution from the Snake People.
And the Snake People harmed humans because of the unforgivable things that humans had done to them in the past.
At this moment, Xiao Jing'er spoke again.
"After burying Qing Lin's parents in that oasis, I took Qing Lin back to the mercenary group, and I made a decision."
Xiao Jing'er 's eyes were filled with determination, and she spoke resolutely.
"I must resolve the conflict between humans and the Snake People! I must eliminate this hatred!"
Xiao Jing'er knew that she didn't possess great compassion, nor did she have the power to care for everyone.
But Qing Lin's parents had saved her and her sister.
Such kind-hearted people should not have met such a tragic end because of the hatred between their races.
Xiao Jing'er couldn't accept this! Their ending should not have been like this!
If there was no hatred between humans and the Snake People, Qing Lin's parents would never have met such a fate!
Even if it was just for Qing Lin's parents, Xiao Jing'er vowed to solve this issue!
"Sister..."
Xiao Yan stared at Xiao Jing'er with a look of determination, and then his expression became serious as he clasped his fists and said earnestly.
"Little brother wishes you success in fulfilling your wish!"
Xiao Jing'er looked at her grown-up brother, her eyes showing a bit of bewilderment, before breaking into a gentle smile.
"Ah~ I'll try my best."
(End of Chapter)
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